JP2003178103A - Network simulation system, network system performance evaluating method and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network simulation system in which a business process to be executed actually is taken into account while a network system to be evaluated is put in use. <P>SOLUTION: The network simulation system 100 includes a traffic foundation preparing means 130 to prepare the interaction of node devices corresponding to an object for task treatment diagrammatically on a business process showing the flow of the task treatment, a business process traffic preparing means 150 to prepare a network containing traffic information in the business process while the traffic information is put in correspondence onto each link of the diagram prepared by the traffic foundation preparing means 130, and a network simulation executing means 160 to set the traffic information generated on the network system in the network prepared by the business process traffic preparing means 150 and perform simulation of the set information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for evaluating design performance of a network system by simulation, and more particularly, to a network simulation system that considers a business process that is actually executed by using the network system to be evaluated, The present invention relates to a performance evaluation method for a network system and its program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A network simulation system is known which performs a simulation based on the performance of each node device constituting a network, a link such as a communication line, a communication protocol or an application in accordance with a change or new construction of the network system. When using this network simulation system, a network simulation model simulating the network system configuration and a traffic model simulating the characteristics of the traffic on this model are created.

The network simulation model is
For example, analysis from the network system configuration diagram and hearing information to the user, processing performance of the node device corresponding to each node configuring the network measured by the measurement device, line speed on the link between each node device, and communication It is created by importing parameters such as the protocol, the communication data size of each node device and the traffic of the communication occurrence interval, and the system response time of the application into the simulation system. The traffic model imports the information measured by the measuring device to the network simulation system, and the analyst assumes based on IT skills and experience from the information measured by the measuring device, the network system configuration diagram, and the hearing information to the user. It is created by doing.

By appropriately changing the parameters of the network simulation model and the traffic model that form the network simulation system, the network system can be simulated under various conditions. Then, by comparing and evaluating the results of the obtained multiple network systems, it is useful for the design support of the network system to be actually constructed.

[0005]

In the above network simulation system, a traffic transmission / reception point (node device) used in a traffic model.
Information such as communication lines (links) is based on the traffic information measured as the flow rate of each measuring device, and the characteristics of a certain part of the traffic generated in the execution of the business process are only used as the traffic model. Only the design performance of the network system for the given traffic model could be evaluated. here,
A business process is a flow showing the flow of business processing executed via a computer, and the interaction between node devices corresponding to business processing objects can be displayed as a diagram.

[0006] Further, even if the model assumes traffic when an actual business process is executed,
In addition to being a model that depends on the skills and experience of model analysts, it was not a model that systematically analyzed the traffic of the entire business process. Therefore, the performance evaluation result of the model to which the conventional traffic model is applied is as a performance evaluation result of a general-purpose network system considering the behavior of complicated traffic that occurs in the process of executing a series of business processes. It wasn't fully available. In other words, the evaluation result of the execution of the network simulation system is used only for the design performance evaluation of the network system only, the diagram showing the information about the business process is analyzed, and the traffic flowing in the process of executing the entire actual business process is analyzed. No network simulation was performed using the systematic model of, and design performance evaluation for optimal business process execution was not performed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to evaluate the performance of a network simulation system and a network system in consideration of a business process actually executed by using a network system to be evaluated. To provide a method and its program.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, in a network simulation system according to the present invention, when a network is constructed or changed, a network system modeled for the construction or the change is used to configure the network. The processing performance of the node device corresponding to each node, the line speed and communication protocol on the link between each node device, the traffic data size of each node device and the traffic information of the communication occurrence interval, and the system response time of the application. In a network simulation system for simulating based on parameters including, on a business process showing a flow of business processing executed via a computer, an interaction between node devices corresponding to the objects of the business processing is described. Created as an iagram, by making the traffic foundation creating means for indicating the communication status in the business process, and by making the traffic information of the parameters correspond to each link of the diagram created by the traffic foundation creating means, A business process traffic creating means for creating a network including traffic information in a business process and the network created by the business process traffic creating means are set as traffic information generated on the network system and simulated. And a network simulation executing means.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the outline of the configuration of the network simulation system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an activity diagram of the diagrams related to the business process. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a sequence diagram of a diagram regarding a business process. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a layout diagram of a diagram regarding a business process. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a use case diagram among the diagrams related to the business process. Figure 6
[Fig. 6] is a diagram for explaining a class diagram of a diagram related to a business process. FIG. 7 is a diagram (activity diagram) for explaining a target business process. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between each activity in FIG. 7 and the sequence diagram. Figure 9
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining deriving a traffic sequence from the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 8 and the relationship with a physical node. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the traffic foundation model derived from FIGS. 7 to 9. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the creation of a business process traffic model. FIG. 12 is another diagram for explaining the creation of the business process traffic model. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the first embodiment of the network simulation system of FIG. FIG. 14 is another diagram for explaining the use case diagram in the diagram regarding the business process. FIG. 15 is another diagram for explaining the activity diagram in the diagram regarding the business process. FIG. 16 is another diagram for explaining the sequence diagram of the diagram regarding the business process. FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the second embodiment of the network simulation system of FIG.

First, the outline of the system configuration of the network simulation system will be described with reference to FIG.
The network simulation system 100 of FIG.
Is a network simulation model creating means 11
0, traffic foundation model creating means 13
0, a database device 140, a business process traffic model creating means 150, and a network simulation system executing means 160. The arrows in FIG. 1 indicate the flow of processing when the present system is executed, and the processing indicated by thick lines in particular indicates the processing according to the present invention. Note that the diagram creation 120 regarding the business process is a manual operation, but is described in this way for convenience.

The network simulation model creating means 110 creates a modeled network model when constructing or changing the network. When creating a network model, the processing performance of the node devices arranged corresponding to each node that constitutes the network, the line speed and communication protocol on the link between each node device, and the communication data size of each node device Parameters including traffic information of communication occurrence intervals and system response time of the application are set.

In the diagram creation 120, information about a business process, which is a flow showing a flow of business processing executed via a computer, is created as a diagram. There are various notations for this diagram, but here, for example, OMG (Object Managemen)
UML (UnifiedMo) standardized by
deling Language).

As the diagram, an activity diagram, a sequence diagram, a layout diagram, a use case diagram or a class diagram is used. The activity diagram is a diagram showing the flow of a business process as shown in FIG. FIG. 2 shows the processing in each of the business departments A, B, and C (for example, the office department, the customer service department, the accounting department, etc.) and the flow thereof. The sequence diagram is as shown in FIG.
The interactions between each object are described over time. As shown in FIG. 4, the layout diagram shows the layout of the devices that make up the network system. In FIG. 4, the physical arrangement of each device corresponding to the node is shown. As shown in FIG. 5, the use case diagram shows the functions of the device itself and the system itself as use cases, and shows the relationship between them and the actors that exchange and receive information. As shown in FIG. 6, the class diagram shows static relationships and structures between classes. Here, a class is an abstraction of an object, and a concrete embodiment of the class is represented as an object used in a sequence diagram or the like. As shown in FIG. 6, each class is configured to have attributes (data structure), operations (actions), and relationships with other classes.

In the database device 140, the diagram created by the diagram creation 120 and the model created by the traffic foundation model creating means 130 described later are registered.

The traffic foundation model creating means 130 creates a diagram showing the interaction between the node devices corresponding to the objects of the business process on the business process, based on the diagram created by the diagram creating 120. This created diagram shows the exchange of data communication, which is the traffic in each business process.

In the business process traffic model creating means 150, the traffic foundation creating means 1
The network including the traffic in the business process is created by associating the traffic information of the various parameters measured by the network simulation model creating means 110 with each link of the diagram created in 30.

The network simulation system execution means 160 executes the simulation using the model constructed by the network simulation model preparation means 110 and the model constructed by the business process traffic model preparation means 150.

(First Embodiment) Next, referring to FIG. 13, the network simulation system 10 of FIG.
A first embodiment of a network system performance evaluation method using 0 will be described.

Network simulation system 1
The service providing side that provides "00" interviews the user who receives the service (step S1). In the network simulation model creating means 110, the service providing side examines and creates a network simulation model used as a network simulation system (step S2). The setting items (settable items of the network simulation system such as nodes, links, and traffic) necessary for executing the network simulation system are analyzed and extracted (step S3). In the network simulation model creating means 110, when measurement of traffic and device performance can be performed by a measuring device (not shown), a node item as a measurement target is determined from the items extracted in step S3 (step S4). ). Traffic and equipment performance are measured by this measuring device (step S5).

From the data measured by the measuring device in step S5, the parameters corresponding to the items extracted in step S3 are extracted (step S6).
In addition, if there is a parameter that has already been extracted and registered in the database (not shown) even if it has not been extracted in step S5, it is extracted (step S7). By the above steps S3 to S7, the network simulation element which is an element (setting item and the above parameter information related thereto) for executing the network simulation system is determined (step S8).

On the basis of the information collected by the hearing, the service provider uses UML notation to create a diagram showing information about the business process (step S9). Here, for example, specifically, FIG.
The diagrams as shown in FIGS. 4 to 16 are created. In the use case diagram of FIG. 14, the relationship between each actor (for example, sales person, approver, general affairs person, etc.) in the approval system and the use case is shown in the business process. For example, the sales representative indicates that two use cases are set up: creating an approval document and executing an approval request. Further, the activity diagram of FIG. 15 shows the flow of the approval work processing in the approval system in the business process. Further, the sequence diagram of FIG. 16 shows a time-course flow of approval business processing for an object in the approval system in a business process.
Such a diagram is created in UML format.

The business process diagram created in step S9 is registered in the database 142 of the database device (step S10). The traffic foundation model creating means 130 associates an object with the diagram of the business process in accordance with the data communication in business (step S11). FIG. 7 shows a diagram (activity diagram) of this business process. FIG. 8 shows the extracted sequence diagram information corresponding to the activities. In FIG. 8, sequence information corresponding to each object (A, B, C, D) is shown. FIG. 9 shows sequence diagram information obtained by replacing the FIG. 8 with the physical node devices (I, II, III) on the network. Hereinafter, the sequence diagram information corresponding to the activities 1 to 7 in FIG. 7 is created in the form as shown in FIG. As a result, a traffic foundation model is created in which the jobs that generate traffic in the business process correspond to the sequence in the diagram. This traffic foundation model is based on database 14
4 is registered (step S12).

The business process traffic model creating means 150 extracts the traffic information of the network simulation element from the network simulation model creating means 110, and associates this information with the node or link of the traffic foundation model created in step S11. It is set (step S13). As a result, a business process traffic model with traffic information is created as shown in FIG. 11 corresponding to FIG. 9 and FIG. 12 corresponding to FIG.

The network simulation system execution means 160 sets the network showing the traffic created by the business process traffic creation means 150 as the traffic information generated on the network system created by the network simulation model creation means 110. This is simulated (step S14). Here, since the traffic on the business process is taken into consideration by the business process traffic model, the network simulation model using this traffic information is executed. This simulation result is quantitatively shown by the processing speed, the generated traffic ratio, etc., and this is shown as a numerical value or a graph format as reference information for system evaluation (step S15). Furthermore, based on this obtained reference information,
The optimum system can be searched by changing the business process or network simulation model and repeating the simulation again (step S16).
At this time, particularly, the effect can be expected by changing the parameter related to traffic or the hardware configuration of the flow of processing related to the business process which becomes the bottleneck.

As described above, by using the traffic model in consideration of the actual business process, it becomes possible to evaluate the performance of the network system suitable for using the system in the process of executing the actual business process.
Further, the service provider side performs the above steps S15 and S1.
Based on the execution results in 6, it becomes possible to perform evaluation and consulting with more emphasis on improving computer processing associated with business processes.

(Second Embodiment) Next, with reference to FIG. 16, the network simulation system 10 of FIG.
A second embodiment of a network system performance evaluation method using 0 will be described. The network system according to the second embodiment is different from the network system according to the first embodiment described above, in particular, in that a service provider performs a simulation via a communication network. In the figure, the process performed in the device 200 is indicated by reference numeral 110 for the process of creating the network simulation model, and reference numeral 150 for the process of creating the business process traffic model.
Are shown in correspondence with each other.

Network simulation system 1
The service providing side that provides “00” constantly or periodically measures the traffic and the device performance via the communication network using the measuring device (step S21). The communication device on the service receiving side (user) transmits the measured traffic and device performance measurement information to the service providing side via the communication network (step S22). Device 200 having network simulation creation function on service providing side
Receives this measurement information (step S23). This device 200 automatically generates a network simulation model based on this measurement information (step S24).
In this device 200, network simulation element information is extracted from the network simulation model automatically generated in step S24 (step S25). The user uses UML notation to create a diagram showing information about the business process (step S26). This diagram is
It is similar to the diagrams shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 described above.

The user's communication device transmits this diagram to the service providing side (step S27). The communication device having the database device 140 on the service providing side receives this diagram (step S2).
8). In this communication device, this diagram is collated with the database in the database device 140, and it is searched whether or not there is a corresponding one (step S2).
9). When the corresponding diagram is detected, the related traffic foundation model is searched from the database 144 of the database device 140 (step S30). If the corresponding diagram is not detected, the diagram is registered in the database 144 (step S31).

The diagram registered in step S31 is analyzed to create a traffic foundation model and registered in the database 144 (step S3).
2). At this time, a system in which a traffic foundation model is automatically generated by inputting a diagram is used. The traffic foundation model obtained in step S30 or S32 is added to the step S2.
A business process traffic model is created by correspondingly setting the traffic information of the network simulation element obtained in step 5 (step S3).
3). In the device 200, the network simulation system execution means 160 includes the network simulation model created in the network simulation model creation process 110 (step S24) and the business process traffic model (step S24).
33) is used to execute a simulation of the network system (step S34).

The result of this simulation is quantitatively shown by the processing speed, the ratio of the generated traffic, etc., and this is transmitted to the user in the form of a numerical value or a graph as reference information for system evaluation (step S35). Based on the obtained reference information, the business process or the network simulation model is changed and the simulation is repeated again, so that the optimum system can be searched (step S36). Also, as a result of examining this reference information, if the user wants to change the business process, the user can obtain another performance evaluation by sending the changed diagram to the service provider.

As described above, the same effects as those of the above-described first embodiment can be obtained, and since the performance evaluation service of the network system through the communication network is provided, the system performance of the user can be regularly checked. , The user can grasp the performance of the system as appropriate. On the contrary, the service provider can also promptly propose a method of coping with the deterioration of the processing performance on the user side.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 17 described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the diagram relating to the business process is created using UML, but this is an example, and it is sufficient if the diagrams relating to the business process can be represented at least as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9.

Further, in the above-described first embodiment, it is assumed that the created diagram and the like are registered in the database device 140 in steps S10 and S12, but by doing so, the diagram can be reused. And will be useful when creating new diagrams.

Although not described in the above embodiment using the class diagram as shown in FIG. 6 and the layout diagram as shown in FIG. It is desirable to use this when it is useful for creating the diagram shown in FIG.

In the above-described embodiment and various modifications, each process for evaluating the performance of the network system by the simulation may be stored in a recording medium such as a hard disk as application software. This makes it possible to store the program or the like in a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM and sell or carry it.

[0036]

By using the network simulation system using the traffic model considering the business process according to the present invention, the performance evaluation of the network system suitable for the use of the system in the process of executing the actual business process can be performed. You will be able to do it. In addition, the service provider side will be able to perform evaluation and consulting with more emphasis on improving computer processing associated with business processes.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a schematic configuration of a network simulation system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an activity diagram of a diagram related to a business process.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a sequence diagram of a diagram regarding a business process.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a layout diagram of a diagram related to a business process.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a use case diagram of a diagram related to a business process.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a class diagram of a diagram related to a business process.

FIG. 7 is a diagram (activity diagram) for explaining a target business process.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between each activity of FIG. 7 and a sequence diagram.

9 is a diagram for explaining deriving a traffic sequence from the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 8 and the relationship with a physical node.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the traffic foundation model derived from FIGS. 7 to 9;

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the creation of a business process traffic model.

FIG. 12 is another diagram for explaining the creation of a business process traffic model.

13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the first embodiment of the network simulation system of FIG.

FIG. 14 is another diagram for explaining the use case diagram in the diagram regarding the business process.

FIG. 15 is another diagram for explaining the activity diagram in the diagram regarding the business process.

FIG. 16 is another diagram for explaining the sequence diagram of the diagram regarding the business process.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the second embodiment of the network simulation system of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

100: Network simulation system 110: Network simulation model creation means 130: Traffic foundation model creation means 140: Database device 150: Business process traffic creation means 160: Network simulation system execution means

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hiroshi Yamada             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F term (reference) 5B046 AA07 DA04 KA05                 5B089 GB03 MC13 MC16

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. When constructing or changing a network, a network system modeled in the constructing or changing is used for processing performance of a node device corresponding to each node configuring the network and on a link between each node device. Tasks executed via a computer in a network simulation system that simulates based on parameters including line speed and communication protocol, traffic information of communication data size and communication occurrence interval of each node device, and system response time of application On the business process showing the flow of processing, the interaction between the node devices corresponding to the objects of the business processing is created as a diagram, and the traffic foundation for showing the communication state in the business processing is created. Means and a business process traffic creating means for creating a network including traffic information in a business process by associating the traffic information among the parameters on each link of the diagram created by the traffic foundation creating means, A network simulation system comprising: a network simulation execution unit that sets the network created by the business process traffic creation unit as traffic information generated on the network system and simulates the traffic information. 2. When constructing or changing a network, a network system modeled in the constructing or changing is used for processing performance of a node device corresponding to each node configuring the network and on a link between each node device. Executed via a computer in a network system performance evaluation method that simulates based on parameters including line speed and communication protocol, traffic data of communication data size and communication occurrence interval of each node device, and system response time of application A business process showing the flow of business processing to be performed, a traffic foundation for creating the interaction between the node devices corresponding to the objects of the business processing as a diagram and showing the communication state in the business processing Step, by associating the traffic information in the parameters on each link of the diagram created in the traffic foundation creating step, a business process traffic creating step for creating a network including traffic information in a business process, and And a network simulation execution step of setting the network created in the business process traffic creation step as traffic information generated on the network system and simulating the traffic information. . 3. The performance evaluation method for a network system according to claim 2, wherein at least one flow of each business process in the business process is changed, the traffic foundation creating step, the business process traffic creating step, and A performance evaluation method for a network system, which is useful for design support of the network system by executing the network simulation execution step. 4. A network system performance evaluation program for causing a computer to execute each process in the network system performance evaluation method according to claim 2. 5. A computer-readable recording medium in which the performance evaluation program of the network system according to claim 4 is recorded.